PHILADELPHIA — Every time he pitches these days, it starts an age-old debate about Jamie Moyer: Can someone who throws that slowly still win in the majors?

At 45, he did just fine this season, leading the Phillies in victories. Up next is the ultimate test — Game 3 of the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays Saturday night.

"It's been a long wait," Moyer said before Friday's off-day workout.

Moyer's first Series appearance — provided there's no rainout — will come 13 days after the Los Angeles Dodgers tagged him in the NLCS. With Philadelphia and the Rays tied at one game each, the ol' left-hander's appearance will give fans of a certain generation a chance to root for one of their own.

"The age thing, it's not an issue, but it's been around for a while with me and I think I'm kind of over it, because I've been around a lot of younger players," Moyer said. "Some kids haven't even been born yet when I was in the major leagues."

"It's kind of weird to think about it," he said. "But back a few years ago when I played in Texas, I had two teammates, Nolan Ryan and Charlie Hough, that were in their 40s, and I really looked up to them and respected who they were and what they did in their careers. And now I've kind of come full circle with it."

Moyer will become the second-oldest player to appear in a Series. Jack Quinn was 47 when he pitched for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1930.

A month shy of his 46th birthday and coming off two losses in the NL playoffs, Moyer could become the oldest pitcher to win a postseason game.

"He's obviously extremely mature," teammate Chase Utley said, smiling. "It's fun to play behind him."

He'll get his chance if the rain holds off. The forecast called for showers into the night. When the Rays and Phillies finished batting practice, the grounds crew rolled out the tarp to protect the field before the first Series game at Citizens Bank Park.

Matt Garza, the MVP of the AL championship series, was set to start for Tampa Bay. At 24, he said he couldn't imagine pitching two more decades.

"At 45, I want to be watching my son play," Garza said. "He's doing it with will and guts. Pitching at 45 is amazing. That's a feat. It's undeniably amazing."

Rays stars Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton, both born after Moyer began his pro career, knew better than to belittle Moyer's soft stuff.

"You've just got to try to be patient," Tampa Bay outfielder Carl Crawford said. "Look for your pitch. It's going to be a little slower."

Phillies hitters weren't in a kidding mood, either. Especially after they went 1-for-28 with runners in scoring position during the first two games at Tropicana Field. They get a chance to break loose as the Series returns to Philly for the first time since 1993 — that October, the most memorable game at Veterans Stadium was Toronto's 15-14 win.

"Baseball is a funny game," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "And people look at it like, 'Gee, I mean, how come they don't come out here and hit like they do during the season, something like that?'"